Mary Adshead
Encyclopedia
Mary Adshead was an English painter, muralist, illustrator and designer.
, the only child of Stanley Davenport Adshead, architect, watercolourist, and Professor of Civic Design first at Liverpool, and later at London University, and his wife Mary. Mary Adshead enrolled at the Slade School in 1921 under Henry Tonks
, who recognised her ability and arranged her first mural commission in Wapping
, working with Rex Whistler
. Her next mural, carried out in 1924, was for Professor Charles Reilly
at Liverpool. Fortuitously it still exists on display at Liverpool University.
Another commission was for Lord Beaverbrook's Newmarket
house. Her mandate was to decorate his dining-room with Newmarket racing scenes and portraits of his friends, such as Arnold Bennett
, Lady Louis Mountbatten, and Winston Churchill
, on their way to the racecourse. The project was never completed as Beaverbrook became concerned that he would be daily faced with the portraits if he ever fell out with any of them.
In 1929 she was married to Stephen Bone, son of the artist Sir Muirhead Bone. The marriage produced two sons and a daughter.
Her first solo exhibition was held in 1930 at the Goupil
Gallery. Working with her husband, she illustrated two children's books. She designed some pictorial issues of stamps for the GPO
in 1949, followed by the 2s 6d and 5s high value definitive stamps in 1951, and she designed the frame around the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the 8d, 9d, 10d and 11d Wilding series
definitive stamps. In 1950 she decorated the fourth-floor restaurant of Selfridge's with jungle scenes. Despite her busy work schedule, she also found time to organise the Society of Mural Painters.
Sheffield, The Imperial War Museum
, Manchester City Art Gallery, The London Transport Museum and The University Art gallery Liverpool. There are also several surviving mural paintings.
An exhibition of her work was held at The University of Liverpool Art Gallery (21 Jan-29 Apr 2005), Graves Art Gallery Sheffield (25 Jun-17 Sept 2005) and Kingston-upon-Thames Art Gallery (1 Oct - 19 Nov 2005).
Life and work
Adshead was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the only child of Stanley Davenport Adshead, architect, watercolourist, and Professor of Civic Design first at Liverpool, and later at London University, and his wife Mary. Mary Adshead enrolled at the Slade School in 1921 under Henry Tonks
Henry Tonks
Henry Tonks, FRCS was a British draughtsman and painter of figure subjects, chiefly interiors, and a caricaturist...
, who recognised her ability and arranged her first mural commission in Wapping
Wapping
Wapping is a place in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets which forms part of the Docklands to the east of the City of London. It is situated between the north bank of the River Thames and the ancient thoroughfare simply called The Highway...
, working with Rex Whistler
Rex Whistler
Reginald John 'Rex' Whistler was a British artist, designer and illustrator.-Biography:Rex Whistler was born in Eltham, Kent, the son of Henry and Helen Frances Mary Whistler...
. Her next mural, carried out in 1924, was for Professor Charles Reilly
Charles Herbert Reilly
Sir Charles Herbert Reilly, was an English architect and teacher. After training in two architectural practices in London he took up a part-time lectureship at the University of London in 1900, and from 1904 to 1933 he headed the Liverpool School of Architecture, which became world-famous under...
at Liverpool. Fortuitously it still exists on display at Liverpool University.
Another commission was for Lord Beaverbrook's Newmarket
Newmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
house. Her mandate was to decorate his dining-room with Newmarket racing scenes and portraits of his friends, such as Arnold Bennett
Arnold Bennett
- Early life :Bennett was born in a modest house in Hanley in the Potteries district of Staffordshire. Hanley is one of a conurbation of six towns which joined together at the beginning of the twentieth century as Stoke-on-Trent. Enoch Bennett, his father, qualified as a solicitor in 1876, and the...
, Lady Louis Mountbatten, and Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, on their way to the racecourse. The project was never completed as Beaverbrook became concerned that he would be daily faced with the portraits if he ever fell out with any of them.
In 1929 she was married to Stephen Bone, son of the artist Sir Muirhead Bone. The marriage produced two sons and a daughter.
Her first solo exhibition was held in 1930 at the Goupil
Goupil & Cie
Goupil & Cie was a leading art dealership in 19th century France, with headquarters in Paris. Step by step, Goupil established a worldwide trade with reproductions of paintings and sculptures, with a network of branches in London, Brussels, The Hague, Berlin and Vienna, as well as in New York and...
Gallery. Working with her husband, she illustrated two children's books. She designed some pictorial issues of stamps for the GPO
General Post Office
General Post Office is the name of the British postal system from 1660 until 1969.General Post Office may also refer to:* General Post Office, Perth* General Post Office, Sydney* General Post Office, Melbourne* General Post Office, Brisbane...
in 1949, followed by the 2s 6d and 5s high value definitive stamps in 1951, and she designed the frame around the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the 8d, 9d, 10d and 11d Wilding series
Wilding series
The Wildings were a series of definitive postage stamps featuring the Dorothy Wilding photographic portrait of Queen Elizabeth II that were in use between 1952 and 1967 until they were replaced by the Machin series.- History :...
definitive stamps. In 1950 she decorated the fourth-floor restaurant of Selfridge's with jungle scenes. Despite her busy work schedule, she also found time to organise the Society of Mural Painters.
Exhibited works
Her paintings are in many public gallery collections including The Tate, The Graves Art galleryGraves Art Gallery
Graves Art Gallery is in the centre of Sheffield above the Central Library and close to the Millennium Galleries. It shows permanent displays from the city’s collections of 19th and 20th century British and European art as well as a programme of temporary exhibitions.The collection encapsulates the...
Sheffield, The Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
, Manchester City Art Gallery, The London Transport Museum and The University Art gallery Liverpool. There are also several surviving mural paintings.
An exhibition of her work was held at The University of Liverpool Art Gallery (21 Jan-29 Apr 2005), Graves Art Gallery Sheffield (25 Jun-17 Sept 2005) and Kingston-upon-Thames Art Gallery (1 Oct - 19 Nov 2005).
Further reading
- Matthew H. Clough, Ann Compton. Earthly delights: Mary Adshead, 1904-1995 (University of Liverpool Art Gallery, 2004)
External links
- Mary Adshead - website (www.maryadshead.co.uk/)
- Mary Adshead biography (London atelier of representational art)
- Mary Adshead biography (Le Point, Cucuron, Provence)
- Mary Adshead - posters and artwork (London Transport museum)